A common misconception among parents is that juice and other fruity drinks do not cause cavities. Although juices may be good for children’s bodies by giving them the vitamins they need, the bacteria in the mouth use natural sugars the same as sugar added to food or soda pop. Even if juice is diluted in water, it still can contribute to cavities. The bacteria in our mouth uses one teaspoon of sugar the same way as ten teaspoons. Every sip, drink, or gulp of sweet liquid starts an acid process that decays the teeth for up to half an hour. And the process doesn’t just start after finishing the drink. Instead, the process continues the whole time of drinking the liquid AND half an hour after the last sip.
Of course, we can’t cut all juice from the diet of our children. However, following a few guidelines helps. For example, it is better to have a glass of juice with meals because eating actively promotes saliva and naturally cleanses our mouths. The opposite would be continually sipping on sweet liquids like juice for long periods of time between meals. Bad.
The bottom line is we want to minimize oral bacteria in children, and being careful about liquids is a large part of that goal.
Next month we will go into more detail about sweet liquids. Until then, keep smiling!
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